16/06/2011 South Today

This is Dragon's Eye. -- South Today. Hundreds of patients start

legal action after faulty artificial hip operations. It was a

terrible noise and it was very embarrassing in that situation and

it was restrictive because I could not walk very far. Closing down. A

fading back in Hampshire gets into financial difficulty. -- failing

bank. Controversial plans to build more houses on this historic site.

From parading the rain to dancing in the grandstand. Racecourse is

getting a little help from the superstars. It is the first gig but

I have been too many courses in my Good evening. Hundreds of people

that have had hip replacements in hospitals locally are being urged

to get blood tests after fears they might be leaking toxic metal. They

were fitted with all metal artificial hips. Usually the socket

is made out of plastic. 8,000 people have been given these since

2003. It has been withdrawn after it was found to run these shards of

metal and levels of chrome and cobalt. One surgeon called it the

biggest orthopedic failing in a generation and some people are

When Diana Collins had a metal hip it was meant to last year's but it

did not. 18 months later it was grinding that loudly and she could

hear it when she walked. It was a terrible noise walking along. It

was metal on metal. It was the way it was working. It was quite

terrifying and we could not predict what was going to happen. The

surgeon could not give us any idea until the actual operation.

joint was sheering off metal pieces and potentially harmful cobalt and

chromium. We do not want people to be worried. Their is a suggestion

that under some circumstances these metals could be harmful but that

does not necessarily mean that it will be. We cannot say for definite

in any particular individual. 8,000 people had these joints and

many had to be replaced. His lawyer and 270 patients are taking legal

action against the company that manufactured them. They rushed to

get the project -- product onto the market before proper testing was

done. The ASR joint was designed for young people because it was

meant to last longer. Many were put in private hospitals. But the Royal

Berkshire Hospital in Reading fitted 300. Other hospitals,

including Portsmouth, Dorchester and Southampton were involved in

replacing faulty hips. 20 % have had them down again which means 80

% have not. We are trying to follow up these people involved. It you

have had this operation but have not had symptoms and the X-rays are

fine, you should be followed up. Studies indicate 21 % failed after

four years and 49 % after six. These figures are disputed by DePuy,

which manufactured the joint. They said they conducted proper testing,

including tests on simulators to about relate how the device

operates over time. -- evaluate. No more are being fitted. Many people

have had them being removed but worries about long-term health

Tom Joyce is an expert on medical engineering and he joins us from

Newcastle. What do you think has gone wrong with the ASR joint? You

have looked at about 400. problem is these artificial hips

have been wearing and listening metal. That has been causing tissue

destruction. You have got a hip joint with you. Can you explain why

you think the failing is. --? fits inside the pelvis. This

component fits alongside. This socket is a relatively shallow bowl

stop it is difficult to tell --. It is difficult to tell. The

lubrication has been failing and the parts have been grinding, metal

on metal. But with scientific advance, testing in laboratories is

done right up until the last minute before it is put inside eight human

body. We would hope that and I am certain DePuy did some testing.

Hundreds of people have been fitted with these joints and are concerned

If you are concerned about this story, contact the company

The company behind plans to redevelop King Edward VII Hospital

near Midhurst says it must build even more houses on the site to

make up for a funding shortfall. It has plans for 410 units to help

support restoring the Grade Two listed building. It is the first

test will be South Downs National Park Authority. Members were given

a special briefing today. This group of children are among people

objecting to plans for the former King Edward VII Hospital on the

outskirts of Midhurst. It will destroy the houses of the animals

and it will not be very good for the other houses. I would hate to

see it full of buildings. developers are trying to restore

the hospital buildings and create 410 new homes. Controversially, 267

houses would be built in the grounds, now part of the South

Downs National Park Authority. are concerned about the impact of

areas of outstanding natural beauty. It would be a massive in possession.

The developers have said the 185 million pound project -- project

will only be Bible it they get permission for the buildings. --

viable. We need to make certain we can actually make sure that it

happens before planning applications. It has not worked

before but we are confident we can deliver. The future of King Edward

VII Hospital is the first major planning application that has been

handled by the new authority. think it is a very significant

applications. It has generated a lot of heat. Yes, it house and we

are fully aware this is a controversial application.

authority is expected to consider the plans for reform are hospital

A small bank based in Havant has been shut down by a government

watchdog after financial difficulty. The Southsea Mortgage and

Investment Company had 250 customers and deposits worth almost

�7.5 million. How will customers be affected? You would not have got

very far with transactions today. This is not a traditional branch.

It is office-based and was shot down by the Financial Services

Authority and the Bank of England. They can do that when banks are

struggling. As far as customers are concerned, many people will get

some sort of compensation because of the government scheme. That is

worth up to �85,000. Many people have invested more and they will

try to get the rest of that from the insolvency company. But we

cannot guarantee everybody will get everything back. We can hear from

the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. We are worried about the

small number of savers in the bank and we are committed to the

compensation scheme to get money back up to the limit of �85,000. We

can do that usually in seven days. How did they get into trouble?

lend money to local housing developments and could not get the

money back. They took matters into their hands and took developments

back and tried to sell them on but that did not happen because of the

slump in the housing market. But the good news is most people will

get some sort of compensation in Coming up on South Today, dropping

in on the eggheads. The hands-on science fair inspiring the next

Coastguards at Lee on the Solent were forced to rely on volunteers

and back-up systems after vital cables was still an early on

Wednesday morning. They are linked to receivers around the cased

picking up emergency calls. Volunteer officers had to look

after the station that 36 hours until the cables were replaced and

lines restored. If it had carried on much longer it could have become

a very serious incident and it could have deteriorated quite

quickly. The worst case scenario would be not been aware of

something happening and a serious loss. A fleet of trains to run from

Brighton to London through Bedford will be built in Germany. The

government contract has been delayed by more than one yet. 1,200

carriages will start arriving in four years. Existing trains will be

moved from Brighton to the Thames Valley when the line at Reading is

electrified. Councillors in Southampton are discussing problems

with ACAS after industrial action by council workers are unhappy

about pay cuts. Rubbish is piling up because people are on strike.

But during talks it has been agreed people will start clearing up

rubbish because of the potential hazard. Killed on a heath. Rare

reptiles were destroyed in Dorset's biggest heath fire a week ago

tonight. Thoughts are turning to the teacher and restoring this

vitally important habitat. -- A catastrophe. Fire and out of

control, killing everything before it. Be people looking after this

habitat are still shocked by what happened. Depression and real anger

that people have done this. It was a moment of selfishness and 12

years of work from volunteers has been literally destroyed. Dead

creatures litter the landscape. We found the remains of a rare snake.

Volunteers are looking for survivors and releasing them.

have found three lizards. We have found snakes and worms and we have

been lucky. What next? How long until the habitat recovers? Close

by, this area was destroyed by fire three years before. It is not back

to normal yet. Not even close. has closed up quite nicely but it

is not strong enough. These things need proper course. But Bass is not

suitable. -- that is just not suitable. Untouched by Piet. Just

what is needed to revive the creatures. -- fire. They need

possibly 20 years until it fully Wiltshire police authority has been

told be false managed to underspend its bumbling by �4 million in the

last financial year. -- funding. Staff numbers at reduced by 79.

Overtime and forensics declined. Increasing fuel prices meant an

overspend on transport funding. Hundreds of soldiers marched

through Crawley because of homecoming parade. It is the first

time the Royal Regiment of the Princess of Wales has marched

through this town. Soldiers recently serving in Afghanistan

took part. The regiment in bowls Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire and the

Isle of Wight. -- includes soldiers from. I am very proud of them.

understand what they had to put up with and I am just giving them a

Pupils from schools across Hampshire have been getting a taste

of science at the lab that developed the technology behind

every day items like the bankcards we carry in our purses or wallets.

Today, as IBM celebrated its centenary, one of its sites here in

the South welcomed some of the youngsters who could be vital to

its success in the next 100 years. Joe Campbell reports.

It's the kind of science lesson every child dreams about. A chance

to test out a theory with the possibility here on this egg drop

test that things just might go wrong. This being the firm which

effectively launched the computer as a business tool. Well there was

screen time too. We are doing robot Wars where we create a robot which

we battle against other people. did not know science could be this

fund. These children are 10 years old, we do not recruit them that

young, but it is about making them think a career in science and

technology could be useful. These youngsters' average age is ten and

they have some way to go to catch up on the firm hosting them. Today

was IBM's 100th birthday. It's been here on this Hampshire site for 50

of those years. Part of our social responsibility as a large

corporation is helping future generations apply skills and

interest in that topic. One target for the next century - perhaps to

get more women into this field. They love coming to things like

this. They will embrace science and ICT, putting the two together is a

combination you cannot fail with that but girls. And the girls were

certainly giving no quarter in this cyber battle. There were more than

70 children hear from 12 schools today and tomorrow. This is the 6th

time they have run the event but did you really want to know how

much of a success it was, listen to I just wonder if they or applauding

Joe there! The RNLI's newest lifeboat along the English Channel

was officially named today. Princess Alexandra and The Duke of

Kent opened the new Shoreham lifeboat station and named its new

boat. The majority of the �2.7 million cost was funded through a

legacy from Enid Collett from Cambridgeshire. She died aged 99

and had no children. Her niece said the family is proud of her legacy.

She became interested in the lifeboat partly because her sister

was a Soderling teacher in the States and partly because I was

involved in fund-raising, so I used to send her lifeboat cards every

year. She got interested like that. She was always very aware of

everything, very aware of what people did, the risks they took

helping save lives. A wonderful legacy there. Now the sport... The

major player today was that the -- the weather at the Rose Bowl.

Indeed. They are playing now. They will probably get enough overs in

it to not give refunds. That will frustrate people. The showers were

widely forecast but it made for a damp start for spectators heading

for Hampshire's big day. And this was the scene which greeted them.

Just when we wanted a bright and sunny start to the first Test match

ever to be held south of London. But the clouds did finally part and

the game got underway just after midday. England won the toss and

decided to bowl. And James Anderson had the distinction of taking the

first Test wicket at The Rosebowl an hour later. But you can guess

what happened next... Most of the afternoon session was washed out

and this has been the view for most of the day. Play resumed half-an-

hour ago. Sri Lanka are struggling at 57 for four. Shahid Afridi has

been cleared to join Hampshire's Twenty20 campaign after resolving a

dispute with the Pakistan Cricket Board. He's likely to make his

debut at Essex next week. There's one game in the Twenty20 Cup

tonight. Sussex are playing at Middlesex in a game which has just

started. Football League new boys Crawley Town will identify their

wealthy overseas backers before the start of the season, in line with

League rules. And they'll also face a preliminary round before the

start of the League Cup in August. They'll play AFC Wimbledon for the

right to face Crystal Palace in the first round. Elsewhere, Brighton's

first midweek game in their new Amex Stadium will be against former

landlords Gillingham. Bournemouth, Portsmouth and Southampton are all

at home. While Aldershot face Premier League rejects West Ham and

Reading travel to Charlton. The ties are played at the start of

August. You cannot escape the football! Bent -- Organisers of the

Island Games which begin on Saturday week have announced that

Lord Coe will attend the Opening Ceremony. The London Olympics chief

will be guest of honour at the event in Ryde. Meanwhile, the Earl

of Wessex is also due to visit the week-long multi-sport event for two

days at the end of the month. Sadly, he won't see competitors from

Prince Edward Island as they pulled out two weeks ago. Wimbledon starts

next week. You can tell because it's raining. And expectations of

home success are sky high once again. All hopes rest on Andy

Murray. But where will the next British Wimbledon winner come from?

In fact, will there ever be one? Miles McDowall from Winchester is

catching the eye after a meteoric rise up the rankings. Jo Kent's

Keep him off with the length. miles is being coached by somebody

who played at Wimbledon 14 times. - - miles. Paul Hand knows it is

tough in tennis and how the promise of early talent is no guarantee of

success. We all know that in the big picture it is very difficult

and viciously competitive. There is probably 100 Russians that want to

get out of there and he will be up against that. Miles has exceeded

all expectations. It is only 18 months since he entered his first

regional tournament and already his national No. 1. A at the start of

the year it was top five, then it recently happened I got No. 1.

James Chaudhry has been there. He was national champion at under 13,

14th and 15th until injury put him out for a year. The sacrifice is

pushing the boundaries which is what these top players are doing,

pushing the boundaries to new levels. Miles has the game,

attitude and fitness for now, but Penny -- but can he keep up the

momentum? He could go a long way. It is very exciting. I would not

put my mortgage on it but he would not for me to say that, but that is

the reality of where we are rat. is a lot of pressure to win.

Everybody wants to be you when you one No. 1. You have to do your best.

-- beat you. When the then starts next week. Royal Ascot this week in

Berkshire. Can you explain for everybody at home he was not privy

to your absolute squeal in the newsroom this afternoon? What went

wrong? I was crying because simply a soaring also light, it ran in the

Derby, trained by sue Morrison, I could not get to the bookies in

time, I fancied putting some money on it and it one! I was so upset!

Gutted is the word. Shall we stay with Royal Ascot. It is a lavish

affair. It marks the tough times facing our racecourses. Indeed. I

was there recently and I think it has been tough for everyone so we

are looking at diversifying and looking at adventurous ideas.

Including music I understand. Let's have a look at her you have been

meeting. Champagne, big cats, checking the form guide, the

traditional image of a British Horseracing. As the last of the

horses thundered past the finishing post, a different kind of a jockey

gets the crowd on its feet. The parade ring transformed into a

dance floor with club house music pumping from the speakers. The

first of the big attractions, boy George. Tonight we will keep

everyone dancing. Some of the beats will be a bit Galop p, party music,

I do not know what the audience will be. -- galloping. I am doing

it blind tonight. The DIS driven by economics, getting you punters to

stay longer and spend more. -- it is driven. New ideas are being

explored to bring in revenue. has been a difficult market. The

last two years were difficult, this year things are improving. People

do not have to run home. It is, the most beautiful places to be. So for

people to be able to sit and enjoy the surroundings and enjoy some

music after racing is natural. at Newbury they have separate

concert events. We did the first one with Ford's tour this year. --

Rod Stewart this year. 15,000 people turned up. Then we start to

see him coming back for traditional race days. The industry faces

another hurdle - racecourses have been helped by money raised by the

betting levy but with many betting companies now moving to offshore

tax havens this income is no longer guaranteed. We think the idea of

getting people into the parade ring will really make the place come

alive. Race courses becoming music venues? Is the sun going down on

British horse racing traditions? Or is it just dancing to a new beat?

You loved that, didn't you? I did. Does he still do Karma chameleon?

did ask him. He is on tour. He is. He gave us some really nice tips

for turning a 50 and still looking Let's look at the weather

pictures... Mike Brown caught these clouds looking towards Bossington

in the Test Valley on his way home from work. And earlier it was a

grey start in Winchester says John Stanning. But the sun did make an

appearance and the kite and wind surfers came out too. Susie Strand

sent us a picture of Littlehampton Some showers are still lingering

but they will ease the way this evening. The satellite picture

shows still a bit of cloud around and we will hang on to a lot of

cloud through the evening and overnight. The showers are tending

to fade away, but Dickie from north and eastern part of the region.

They may be slower to clear in the east -- the south of the region. A

touch Mark along the south coast, then further show was bubbling up

early tomorrow preceding the main rain band which approaches from the

south-west by late morning. It is slight initially but will become

persistent with temperatures The rain will turn heavy in the

afternoon. It will ease and there will be some clear breaks but

temperatures will be more less Blame it on these areas of low

pressure, the first one is moving up, the second one is ready and

waiting, bringing some tight isobars for Friday. Keep your eye

on that area of low pressure which brings us further rain on Monday.

Saturday is a better day because we will see a few showers around but

perhaps not as many as today. I think there will be some chance of

cricket action on Saturday, Friday, not much by way of cricket

happening I think. It looks like a washout. The outlook - Friday, wet,

windy with temperatures struggling. An unpleasant day. Saturday,

showers around becoming widespread by the afternoon. Sunday, dry,

I have a lovely picture. It's a mite measuring one tenth of a

millimetre. It was pictured by accident when scientists at